Abstract

The secondary market for life insurance policies continues to grow as a result of the positive value created through improved liquidity for an otherwise illiquid asset. While there are critics of the life settlement industry, market forces and property rights ensure that the phenomenon of individuals reselling their life insurance policies will persist. As the life settlement market matures there are several changes that must occur in order to reduce transaction costs, allowing greater market efficiency and ensuring sustainability of the industry. This article makes the case for greater transparency and reduced transaction costs within the industry in order to increase returns to sellers, thereby motivating additional sellers to consider disposing of their policies and unlocking underlying value.